Apparatus for retracting tow cable for water skiers



Jan. 1, 1963 R. s. CUTLAN 3,071,099

APPARATUS FOR RETRACTING TOW CABLE FOR WATER SKIERS Filed Oct. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 mfmym Jan. 1, 1963 R. s. CUTLAN 3,071,099

APPARATUS FOR RETRACTING TOW CABLE FOR WATER SKIERS Filed Oct. 14, 1959 2 Sheets-$heet 2 H6 16 F/@. 7 0/ W /0 9a Arm/avg Y5 United States PatentO 3,071,099 APPARATUS FOR RETRACTING TOW CABLE FOR WATER SKIERS Roland S. Cutlan, 436 Zenith Ave. N., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Oct. 14, 1959, Ser- No. 846,310 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) This invention relates to apparatus for automatically retrieving water-ski tow ropes.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel takeup apparatus, of simple and inexpensive construction, for automatically retrieving water-ski tow ropes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel take-up apparatus having water impelled drive means for automatically retrieving water-ski tow ropes.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel dual reel apparatus adapted to be mounted on the boat and including water impelled drive means for automatically retrieving water-ski tow ropes upon forward movement of the boat.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following descrip tion, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the present invention shown attached to the transom of I a boat;

FIG. 2 is a rear shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the upper mounting bracket;

P16. 5 is a front perspective view of a different em bodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a still different embodiment of the invention with portions thereof broken away and other concealed parts indicated by dotted line configuration;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 and includes a novel take-up apparatus, generally designated as 10, shown mounted to the transom of a boat B having a conventional inboard type engine, not shown. The novel take-up apparatus 10 serves to automatically retrieve ski tow ropes during forward movement of the boat when the tow ropes are released by a water skie being towed thereby.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the elevational view of'the embodiment novel take-up apparatus 10 includes a pair of frame members or shields 11 interconnected by an axle 12 extending therebetween. The outer ends of axle 12, which are threaded, extend through openings formed in frame members 11 and are secured against axial movement by lock nuts 13. It will also be seen that frame members 11 are each provided with inturned peripheral flanges 14. A

pair of reels or winches 15 are mounted in co-axial relarigid plastic material or the like. Reels 15 are maintained I in axially spaced relation on axle 12 by a spacer 17 and each reel has a gear 18 aflixed thereto for rotation therewith as best shown in FIG. 3. Another pair of spacer sleeves 19 are mounted on axle 12 adjacent the outer The outer ends of axle 20 are threaded and extend through openings formed in frame members 11 and are secured thereto by lock nut 21. The drive mechanism for rotating reels 15 also includes a pair of paddle wheels 22 each having a hub 23 rotatably mounted on axle 20 and a plurality of blades 24 extending radially from the hub. Paddle wheels 22 are provided with nylon sleeve type bearings 25 and each has a gear 26 aflixed thereto enmeshing with one of the gears 18 of reel 15. It will be seen that the outer circumferential edge of hub 23 bears against the inner surface of frame member 11 and gear 26 has one face thereof in engaging relation with a flange of reels 15. Thus the paddle wheels 22 are prevented from axial displacement on axle 20 and rotation of paddle Wheels 22, of course, imparts rotative movement to reel members 15 through gears 18 and 26. Means are also provided for mounting take-up apparatus 10 to a transom T of boat B and include an elongate vertical tubular member 27 having a transverse bar 28 secured thereto adjacent the lower end as by welding or the like. Each of the frame members 11 are provided with lugs 29 which are secured to transverse bar 28 by bolts 30.

.An angle bracket 31 includes averticalleg 32 which is secured to the lower portion of the transom T of the boat by bolts or the like and also includes a horizontal leg 33. Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that horizontal leg 33 is provided with an upstanding pin 34 upon which is seated the lower end of tubular member 27.

An upper mounting bracket 35 in the form of an angle member includes a vertical leg 36 and a horizontal leg '37.

. Each of the legs 36 and 37 are provided with openings 38 through which are passed bolts or other conventional securing means. In the embodiments shown, the vertical leg 36 is shown secured to the upper portion of transom T of boat B. Horizontal leg 37 permits the take-up apparatus 10 to be mounted on the underside of the housing of a conventional outboard type motor. In the event take-up apparatus 10 is mounted to an outboard motor, then bracket 31 of course would be secured to the lower portion of the housing. 7 j

Bracket 35 is also provided with a pair of laterally spaced arms 39 integrally formed with the outer ends of vertical leg 36. Each of the-arms 39 has an upwardly opening slot 40 formed therein, the function of which I will be described hereinbelow.

ing slot. A sleeve type bracket 41 is mounted on tubular member 27 and includes a transversely extending pin 42 which is seated within said last mentioned slot. A pair of axially spaced pulleys 43 are rotatably mounted on pin 42, as best seen in FIG. 2, and a pair of rearwardly facing tubular guide elements are secured to bracket 41. It will be seen that each guide element 44 is positioned above one of the pulleys 43 and cooperates therewith for guiding a water-ski tow rope. v

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that bracket 41 is provided with a pair of clevis type clamps '45 each of which is rotatably mounted adjacent the outer end portion of pin 42. When bracket 41 is mounted to bracket 35, the outer portions of pin 42 adjacent clevis clamps 45 are positioned within slots 40 and the clevis clamps 45 are thereafter swung downwardly until they are in the position as shown in FIGS. land 2. Each clamp 45 is movement' of" the boat.

provided with a clamping screw 47 which is then tightened against one of the respective arms 39 to thereby releasably secure take-up apparatus 10 to the upper portion of transom T.

- Take-up apparatus 10 is provided with a pair of tow ropes 48 each of which is secured at one end thereof to one of the reels 15 and which passes upwardly over pulleys 43 and through guide elements '44. Tow ropes 48 are provided with a conventional handle means 49 adjacent the other end thereof which is adapted to be grasped by persons on water skis during the towing operation.

Each of the flanges 14 of frame or shield members 11 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced lugs 50 adjacent the, lower rear portion thereof as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. A baffle plate 51 has a sleeve 52 adjacent the upper end thereof which is positioned between lugs 50 on each frame member 11 and secured thereto by a pin 53. Thus baffle plate 51 is mounted for rearward swinging movement in a vertical plane but is prevented from swinging forwardly thereof beyond a substantial vertical position because of its abutting relation with shield member 11 as shown in FIG. 1. Bafiie member 51 serves to neutralize the impelling effect of water on paddle wheel 22when the boat B is moved rearwardly so that there is no reeling in of the tow rope.

In operation, the tow ropes 48 are unwound from reels 15 and the handles 49 are grasped by water skiers who are then. towed by the boat B at a relatively fast rate of speed and in a forward direction. When the tow rope 48 is sograsped by a water skier, the gear ratio between gears 18 and 26 is such that the weight of the water skier offsets the tendency of paddle wheel 22 to rotate. When the water skier releases handle 49 of tow rope 48, the paddle wheel 22 is caused to rotate rapidly by the action of water thereagainst which in turn imparts rotative movement to reel 15 so that the tow rope 48 is quickly wound upon the reel. It will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that the reels and paddle wheel are disposed below the surface of the Water during operation thereof so that the paddle wheels are, of course, responsive to the movement of water when the boat B is moving in a forward direction.

'I'hus take-up apparatus 10 is adapted to simultaneously tow two persons on water skis or it may be used to tow only one person.

Referring now to FIG. 5, I have shown as a different embodiment of my invention a single reel take-up apparatus 60 which is similar in structure to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. Take-up apparatus 60 includes a frame 61 including an L-shaped member 62 and a shield 63. L-shaped frame member 62 includes a transverse leg 62a whichis secured adjacent one end thereof to shield 63 by bolt 64, or the like. L-shaped member 62 also includes a. longitudinally extending leg 62b which cooperates with shield 63 for rotatably mounting the reel and drive assembly therebetween. An elongate vertical tubular member 65 is secured intermediate the ends of transverse leg 62a by welding or the like and has a bracket assembly secured to the upper end thereof, not shown, in the manner of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. An axle 66 extends between and is secured to longitudinal leg 62b and shield member 63 and a reel 67 is rotatably mounted thereon. Although not shown, reel 67 is provided with agear means affixed thereto in the manner of the dual reel take-up apparatus. Another axle 68 is positioned below axle 66 and extends between and is mounted to shield 63 and longitudinally extending leg 62b. Axle 68 has a paddle wheel rotatably mounted thereon which is also providedwith a gear enmeshing with the gear on reel 67 which serves-to drive or rotate reel 67 during forward Although this structure is not shown in FIG. of the drawing, it is quite similar to the embodiment shown. in FIGS. 1-4 and operates in substantially-the. same. manner. Take-up apparatus. 60 may be mounted on the transom of the boat or on an outboard motor but, of course, is designed to tow only one person.

A still further embodiment is disclosed in FIGS. 6-8 and take-up apparatus comprises a frame 81 including an L-shaped member 82 and a shield member 83. L- shaped member 82 includes a transversely extending leg 82a and a longitudinally extending leg 82b, as best seen in FIG. 8. The transversely extending leg 82a is secured adjacent its outer end to shield member 83 by bolts or the like and an elongate vertical tubular member 84 is secured adjacent its lower end to the intermediate portions of transverse leg 82a as by welding. Shield member 83 is provided with an inturned peripheral flange 83a and is also provided with an inwardly extending embossed portion 85 as best shown in FIG. 7. An elongate axle member 86 has its outer ends threaded and one end thereof passes through embossed portion 85 and the other end thereof passes through an opening formed in longitudinally extending leg 82b. Axle 86 is secured to shield 83 and longitudinally extending 82b by lock nuts 87. A reel 88 is rotatably mounted on axle 86 and is provided with a pair of sleeve bearings 89 each having a flanged end 89a which bear against the embossed portion 85 and the inner face of longitudinally extending leg 82b. It will also be noted that the outer ends of axle 86 are reduced as at 860 as best seen in FIG. 7 which prevents outward axial shifting of the axle.

A paddle wheel generally designated 90 includes a hub 91 which is secured to one of the flanges 88a of reel 88 by a plurality of radially arranged rivets 92. A plurality of radially extending blades 93 are secured to one face of hub 91 and each blade terminates outwardly in an enlarged outer portion 93. Thus it will be seen that paddle wheel 90 is secured to reel 88 for direct drive.

Referring now to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the upper end of tubular member 84 is provided with an elongated vertical slot 9 4 and is also provided with a transversely extending pin 95. A pulley 96 is rotatably mounted on pin and is positioned within slot 94. A pair of clevis type clamps 97 are rotatably mounted on pin 95 and are secured in position on each sideof tubular member 84 by lock means 98. Each of the clevis clamps 97 also is provided with a locking screw 99 which functions in the manner of the locking screw illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. A bracket 100 is secured adjacent the upper end of tubular member 84 and serves to support a tubular guide means 101 positioned rearwardly of and just above pulley 96. Pulley 96 and guide element 101 serve to guide and facilitate winding of the cable for tow rope to be wound about reel 88.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 8, it will be seen that the inturned flange portion 83a of shield 83 is provided with a pair of opposed parallel lugs 102 positioned adjacent' the lower rear portion thereof. A baffle plate 103 is provided with a sleeve 104 adjacent one end thereof which is'positioned' between lugs 102. Lugs 102 are provided'with' registering openings and a pin- 105 passes therethrough and through sleeve 104 to thereby pivotally mount bafiie plate 103 to shield member 83 for limited swinging movementina substantial vertical plane. It will be seen that bafiie plate 103 may pivot freely in a rearward direction or to the right, as shown in dotted configuration of FIG. 6, but that it is limited in its forward movement or to the left as viewed in FIG. 6 by the abutting relatiouship of the inturned flange 83a with the baflie plate 103.

Baflieplate 103, of course, causes the water to be defi'ected and therefore serves-to reduce the impelling effect of water on paddle wheel 90 during rearward movement of the boat to which the apparatus is mounted.

Take-up apparatus 80 functions in the manner of the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. l-5 and, of course, will be provided witha-tow rope having one end there attachable to reel 88 and extending upwardly over pulley 96 and outwardly through guide 101 and forward movement of a boat to which the apparatus is attached will cause paddie wheel 90 to be rotated by action of water thereagainst whereby reel 88 will be rotated for reeling in the tow rope. The pull or weight needed to offset the reeling effect will be determined by the surface area of enlarged outer portions 93a of blades 93. The blades may therefore be formed of a size to be rendered inefiective by a person weighing 100 pounds or more or the exposed surface area of the blades may be reduced so that the effect of the paddle wheels will be overcome by a lesser weight. It should also be noted that the gear ratio between gears 18 and 26, of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, may be arranged so that the reel and paddle wheel are rendered ineffective by the pull of a 100 pound person, for example, or any desired weight.

It will therefore be noted from the preceding description that I have provided a novel take-up apparatus which will automatically retrieve a ski tow rope during forward movement of a boat to which the apparatus is attached when the tow rope is released by a user. My novel apparatus rapidly and automatically winds up a free ski tow rope so that there are no problems of the rope becoming fouled with the propeller of the engine.

it will also be noted from the foregoing description that i have provided a dual reel take-up apparatus which permits two persons to ski in side by side relation and which rapidly winds up the tow rope when released by one of the users so there is no danger to the other user by the flailing effect of the tow rope endv What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for automatically retrieving a ski tow rope comprising a frame including a shield, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation relative thereto, propeller mechanism mounted on said frame and being partially enclosed within said shield and being interconnected with said reel, said propeller mechanism being responsive to the movement of water for rotating said reel, means for mounting said frame in fixed relation on a boat adjacent the lower portion thereof to position at least a portion of said propeller mechanism and shield below the surfaces of the Water whereby said tow rope will be wound upon the reel during forward movement of the boat, and a bafi le member pivotally connected to the shield and depending therefrom for fore and aft limited swinging movement about a transverse axis, said baffie member being disposed rearwardly of a propeller mechanism and below the surface of the water when said apparatus is mounted on a boat, and cooperating stop means on said shield and baffle member respectively for limiting forward pivoting of the baffle member whereby said baffle member and shield cooperate with each other to neutralize the effect of the water on said propeller mechanism during rearward movement of the boat.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said propeller mechanism is mounted for rotation about an axis spaced from the axis for rotation of said reels, and driving connection between said reel and said propeller mechanism.

3. Apparatus for automatically retrieving ski tow ropes comprising a frame, a reel rotatably mounted on said frame, tow rope having one end thereof secured to said reel and being wound thereon, propeller mechanism rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation relative thereto and having driving connections with said reel and being responsive to the movement of water for rotating said reel, means for mounting said frame on a boat adjacent the lower portion thereof in fixed relation therewith to position at least a portion of said propeller mechanism below the surface of the water, said driving connection cooperating with said reel and propeller mechanism during forward movement of the boat to normally permit said tow rope when grasped and extended by a user to be retained in an extended position and causing said tow rope to be quickly wound upon the reel when released by the user, tow rope guide mechanism carried by said mounting means and being spaced substantially above said reel when said apparatus is mounted on a boat so that said rope extends upwardly from said reel and thereafter rearwardly to thereby facilitate winding and unwinding of the tow rope from said reel, and a baffle member pivotally connected to the frame and depending therefrom for fore and aft limited swinging movement about a transverse axis, said baffle member being disposed rearwardly of said propeller mechanism and below the surface of the water when said apparatus is mounted on a boat, and cooperating stop means on said frame and battle member respectively, for limiting forward pivotal movement of said bafile member whereby said member serves to neutralize the effect of the water on said propeller mechanism during rearward movement of the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 121,249 Lake Nov. 28, 1871 1,404,284 Fougner Jan. 24, 1922 1,978,474 Nye Oct. 30; 1934 2,607,360 Young Aug. 19, 1952 2,899,925 Meek Aug. 18, 1959 

1. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RETRIEVING A SKI TOW ROPE COMPRISING A FRAME INCLUDING A SHIELD, A REEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION RELATIVE THERETO, PROPELLER MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME AND BEING PARTIALLY ENCLOSED WITHIN SAID SHIELD AND BEING INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID REEL, SAID PROPELLER MECHANISM BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF WATER FOR ROTATING SAID REEL, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FRAME IN FIXED RELATION ON A BOAT ADJACENT THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF TO POSITION AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID PROPELLER MECHANISM AND SHIELD BELOW THE SURFACES OF THE WATER WHEREBY SAID TOW ROPE WILL BE WOUND UPON THE REEL DURING FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOAT, AND A BAFFLE MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SHIELD AND DEPENDING THEREFROM FOR FORE AND AFT LIMITED SWINGING MOVEMENT ABOUT A TRANSVERSE AXIS, SAID BAFFLE MEMBER BEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF A PROPELLER MECHANISM AND BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE WATER WHEN SAID APPARATUS IS MOUNTED ON A BOAT, AND COOPERATING STOP MEANS ON SAID SHIELD AND BAFFLE MEMBER RESPECTIVELY FOR LIMITING FORWARD PIVOTING OF THE BAFFLE MEMBER WHEREBY SAID BAFFLE MEMBER AND SHIELD COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER TO NEUTRALIZE THE EFFECT OF THE WATER ON SAID PROPELLER MECHANISM DURING REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOAT. 